Poets | Members | Poem of the Day | Top 40 | Search | Comments | Privacy
May 13th, 2008 - we have 237 poets, 8036 poems and 17465 comments.
James Tate - The Wrong Way Home

All night a door floated down the river.
It tried to remember little incidents of pleasure
from its former life, like the time the lovers
leaned against it kissing for hours
and whispering those famous words.
Later, there were harsh words and a shoe
was thrown and the door was slammed.
Comings and goings by the thousands,
the early mornings and late nights, years, years.
O they've got big plans, they'll make a bundle.
The door was an island that swayed in its sleep.
The moon turned the doorknob just slightly,
burned its fingers and ran,
and still the door said nothing and slept.
At least that's what they like to say,
the little fishes and so on.
Far away, a bell rang, and then a shot was fired.

Added: on February 16th, 2006 at 10:28 AM | Viewed: 3238 times | Comments and analysis of The Wrong Way Home by James Tate Comments (2)


The Wrong Way Home - Comments and Information

Poet: James Tate
Poem: The Wrong Way Home
Volume: Worshipful Company of Fletchers

Comment 2 of 2, added on April 30th, 2007 at 3:51 PM.

this is one of the best poems i have read in along time all i like to read is poems nothing but poems i really love to read the ones my sister writes her name is mistie wilson they are the best ones ever

jamie from United States
Comment 1 of 2, added on February 16th, 2006 at 10:28 AM.

This poem invoked a deep sadness in me because as I read and reread it, pictures of New Orleans kept coming into my head. A simple thing like this old door can hold so much personal history and now it cannot tell anyone any more.

Marilyn Hansen from United States

Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Wrong Way Home, has received 2 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by James Tate with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info

Tate Info
Copyright © 2000-2008 Gunnar Bengtsson. All Rights Reserved. Links | Bookstore